The Guardian has a very interesting article which pulls back the curtain a bit further. In it, we get a glimpse of life in today's Saudia Arabia: "In Rajaa Alsanea's Girls of Riyadh, sex in Saudi Arabia is sighs and tears, cruising, long telephone calls after midnight, instant messaging, arranged marriages, prayers to God, the … Continue reading When We Get Behind Closed Doors–Part 2

After its initial publication in Beirut, Rajaa Alsanea's novel Girls of Riyadh caused a great deal of protest in her native Saudia Arabia. It seems many didn't like her book's depiction of women's lives and loves behind the veil. But in the end the book was made available in the kingdom, and the result was … Continue reading When We Get Behind Closed Doors

The Encyclopedia Britannica continues its thumbnail guide to 20th century literary movements. This week it's E through I. My favorite:Inklings, 1940s. English authors with strong Christian beliefs and a preference for pre-19th-century poetry and myth: C. S. Lewis, Perelandra (1943); J. R. R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings (1954); Charles Walter Stansby Williams, All … Continue reading Faking It–Part 2